Three county high schools ranked among the best

Published: Friday, April 26, 2013 at 5:31 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 26, 2013 at 5:31 p.m.

Three Henderson County high schools were listed as among the best in the state and nation and awarded silver medals in U.S. News and World Report’s recently released “Best High Schools” rankings.

North Henderson High (ranked 33rd in the state and No. 1,948 in the nation), West Henderson High (No. 38 in the state and No. 2,064 in the nation) and East Henderson High (41st in the state and No. 2,162 in the nation) earned silver medal honors this year. West Henderson received a bronze medal in 2012.

Brevard High, ranked 35th in the state and No. 1,973 nationally, also received a silver medal. Polk County High received a bronze medal. Schools in the bronze medal category and those that did not receive designations were not ranked.

Buncombe County had two schools in the rankings, A.C. Reynolds High at No. 5 in the state and North Buncombe High at No. 11.

“To hear that news is a really great reflection of dedicated teachers and a community that provides a lot of support, and a great school system,” West Henderson Principal Dean Jones said. “In the end, the students are being successful.”

U.S. News and World Report reviewed 21,035 public high schools across the country, and 104 North Carolina schools made the rankings based on state proficiency standards and how well they prepare students for college.

Rankings and medals were based on how high a school scored in three areas: overall performance of students on state tests, how well the school’s least-advantaged students performed on those tests (must be better than the state average), and college preparation measured by student performance on Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams.

The two top schools in the state — Durham School of the Arts and Carrboro High — received gold medals and were ranked No. 176 and No. 189, respectively, in the nation. Forty-seven schools received silver medals and 55 were awarded bronze.

Gold medals were given to the top 500 schools in the country based on college readiness and English and Algebra proficiency. College readiness was determined by the percentage of 12th-graders who passed AP exams, and proficiency in English and Algebra was based on state exit exam results.

Silver medals were awarded to high-performing schools that had lower college readiness. Bronze medal status was given to high-performing schools based on state exams.

As a district, Henderson County Public Schools’ six high schools (including Hendersonville High, Henderson County Early College High and Balfour Education Center), combined for above-state-average performance in college readiness and English and Algebra proficiency.

Nationally, the School for the Gifted and Talented in Dallas topped the list, followed by BASIS Tucson and Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology in Lawrenceville, Ga.

Visit www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools for more information about the “Best High Schools” rankings.

In North Carolina, only seven other school districts had three or more schools make the state rankings — Burke County Schools (two silver and one bronze), Caldwell County Schools (one silver and two bronze), Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (four silver and two bronze), Cumberland County Schools (one silver and two bronze), Surry County Schools (two silver and a bronze), Wake County Schools (seven silver and two bronze) and Wilkes County Schools (one silver and three bronze).

There are 115 school districts in the state.

With 50 percent of their high schools earning medals, the Henderson and Polk county school systems had some of the strongest showings in the state.

Only 10 other districts had 50 percent or more of its schools in the medals. Wilkes County Schools had four of its five high schools earn designations; Surry County Schools had three of four; and Burke and Caldwell county schools had three of six. Chatham, Franklin, Haywood, Moore, Northampton county schools and Newton Conover City Schools each had two of four schools earn medals.

In Haywood County, Tuscola High earned a silver and Pisgah High received a bronze.

<p>Three Henderson County high schools were listed as among the best in the state and nation and awarded silver medals in U.S. News and World Report's recently released “Best High Schools” rankings. </p><p>North Henderson High (ranked 33rd in the state and No. 1,948 in the nation), West Henderson High (No. 38 in the state and No. 2,064 in the nation) and East Henderson High (41st in the state and No. 2,162 in the nation) earned silver medal honors this year. West Henderson received a bronze medal in 2012. </p><p>Brevard High, ranked 35th in the state and No. 1,973 nationally, also received a silver medal. Polk County High received a bronze medal. Schools in the bronze medal category and those that did not receive designations were not ranked. </p><p>Buncombe County had two schools in the rankings, A.C. Reynolds High at No. 5 in the state and North Buncombe High at No. 11. </p><p>“To hear that news is a really great reflection of dedicated teachers and a community that provides a lot of support, and a great school system,” West Henderson Principal Dean Jones said. “In the end, the students are being successful.” </p><p>U.S. News and World Report reviewed 21,035 public high schools across the country, and 104 North Carolina schools made the rankings based on state proficiency standards and how well they prepare students for college.</p><p>Rankings and medals were based on how high a school scored in three areas: overall performance of students on state tests, how well the school's least-advantaged students performed on those tests (must be better than the state average), and college preparation measured by student performance on Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exams.</p><p>The two top schools in the state — Durham School of the Arts and Carrboro High — received gold medals and were ranked No. 176 and No. 189, respectively, in the nation. Forty-seven schools received silver medals and 55 were awarded bronze. </p><p>Gold medals were given to the top 500 schools in the country based on college readiness and English and Algebra proficiency. College readiness was determined by the percentage of 12th-graders who passed AP exams, and proficiency in English and Algebra was based on state exit exam results. </p><p>Silver medals were awarded to high-performing schools that had lower college readiness. Bronze medal status was given to high-performing schools based on state exams. </p><p>As a district, Henderson County Public Schools' six high schools (including Hendersonville High, Henderson County Early College High and Balfour Education Center), combined for above-state-average performance in college readiness and English and Algebra proficiency. </p><p>Nationally, the School for the Gifted and Talented in Dallas topped the list, followed by BASIS Tucson and Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology in Lawrenceville, Ga. </p><p>Visit www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools for more information about the “Best High Schools” rankings.</p><p><b.State comparison</b> </p><p>In North Carolina, only seven other school districts had three or more schools make the state rankings — Burke County Schools (two silver and one bronze), Caldwell County Schools (one silver and two bronze), Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (four silver and two bronze), Cumberland County Schools (one silver and two bronze), Surry County Schools (two silver and a bronze), Wake County Schools (seven silver and two bronze) and Wilkes County Schools (one silver and three bronze). </p><p>There are 115 school districts in the state. </p><p>With 50 percent of their high schools earning medals, the Henderson and Polk county school systems had some of the strongest showings in the state. </p><p>Only 10 other districts had 50 percent or more of its schools in the medals. Wilkes County Schools had four of its five high schools earn designations; Surry County Schools had three of four; and Burke and Caldwell county schools had three of six. Chatham, Franklin, Haywood, Moore, Northampton county schools and Newton Conover City Schools each had two of four schools earn medals. </p><p>In Haywood County, Tuscola High earned a silver and Pisgah High received a bronze.</p>